Review of Blood and Lace (1971) by R.john X — 29 Jan 2012

I really loved this one. And it has some to do with Melody Patterson and that sassy hair cut. Plus a kid named Bunch, who is something of a jailbait tramp. Even though I figured out all the twists at the end, long before they were revealed, mainly do to the fantastic way the movie forecasts them.

The visuals are incredibly innovative and possibly very influencial. Especially for 1971! Slasher tropes had yet to settle in, so I wonder just how much homage is being paid in the opening sequence of HALLOWEEN - since both movies open with a murder weapon POV.

Plus Texas Chainsaw seems to have lifted whole sequences and staging from the freezer sequences. Not to mention DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT (the forgotten). Aside from dubious and probably purely invented connections, the movie has other outstanding merits.

Such as Vic Tayback, a detective who creeps around like a pervy perv and only got the promotion because it paid 50 dollars more a month and the other guy had a family. Uncle Leo has the best escape method, the only successful joke in the movie, even if he tries to rape Ellie after making it it.

Plus the soundtrack is fantastically public domain sounding more like the score to an Saturday afternoon serial like Flash Gordon than a scary movie. The thundering trumpets and splashy cymbals sound be the backdrop to a speedy car chase on a winding cliff road where gangsters are shooting at the good guy who has been drugs and has a yelling woman crying next to him, not the back drop to a hammer and cleaver fight or a slinky scene of hallway exploration! Still.

Amazing movie that I really liked.